Etymology Explorer › English

Where does “clitorism” come from?

clitorism (English) comes from English clitoris, from Latin clitoris, from Ancient Greek κλειτορίς, from Ancient Greek κλείω, from Proto-Hellenic klāyyō, from Proto-Indo-European kleh₂uyeti, from Proto-Indo-European kleh₂u- — nail, pin, hook - instruments, of old use for...

clitorism (English): lesbianism

Definitions

  1. lesbianism

Ancestry of “clitorism”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1EnglishclitorisA sensitive elongated erectile organ at the...
2Latinclitorisof the clitoris
3Ancient Greekκλειτορίςclitoris
4Ancient Greekκλείωshut, close, bar; enclose, shut in; Epic form of...
5Proto-Hellenicklāyyō—
6Proto-Indo-Europeankleh₂uyeti—
7Proto-Indo-Europeankleh₂u-nail, pin, hook - instruments, of old use for...
Every word from Proto-Indo-European kleh₂u- →